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Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is a modern international city located at the southern end of the Honshu Kanto Plain. It has jurisdiction over 23 special districts, 27 cities, 5 towns, 8 villages, as well as the Izu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands. , with a total area of ??2,155 square kilometers and a population of 12.54 million, it is one of the most populous cities in the world.
More than 500 years ago, Tokyo was a small fishing town with a sparse population, then called Edo. In 1457, a military commander named Ota Michizan built Edo Castle here. Since then, it has become the commercial center of Japan's Kanto region. In 1603, Japan established the centralized Tokugawa Shogunate. People from all over Japan gathered here, and Edo Castle quickly developed into the political center of the country. According to records, at the beginning of the 19th century, the population of Edo exceeded one million. In 1868, after Japan's Meiji Restoration, the emperor moved here from Kyoto and changed Edo to Tokyo, which became the capital of Japan. In 1943, the Japanese government issued a decree to change the city of Tokyo to Tokyo Metropolitan Government, expanding its jurisdiction.
Pedestrians on the bustling streets of Tokyo
Tokyo is the political center of Japan. Executive, legislative, judicial and other state organs are concentrated here. The "Kasumigaseki" area, known as "Kantai Street", is home to the National Diet, the Supreme Court, and government agencies affiliated with the cabinet such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Science. The former Edo Castle is now the palace where the emperor lives.
Tokyo is also the economic center of Japan. Japan's major companies are concentrated here. Most of them are located in Chiyoda Ward, Chuo Ward, and Minato Ward. Tokyo, Yokohama to the south and Chiba area to the east together form the famous Keihin Industrial Zone in Japan. The main industries include steel, shipbuilding, machine manufacturing, chemicals, electronics, leather, motors, fibers, petroleum, publishing and printing, and precision instruments. Tokyo's financial industry and commerce are developed, and domestic and foreign business activities are frequent. Ginza, known as the "Heart of Tokyo", is the most prosperous business district in the area.
The famous Shinjuku district in Tokyo at sunset, with the silhouette of Mount Fuji visible in the distance
Tokyo is also the cultural and educational center of Japan. Various cultural institutions are densely populated, including 80% of the country's publishing houses and large-scale and advanced-equipped National Museums, Western Art Museums, and National Libraries. Universities located in Tokyo account for one-third of the total number of universities in Japan, and the students studying at these universities account for more than half of the total number of university students in the country. As an international metropolis, Tokyo often hosts various international cultural exchange activities, such as the Tokyo Music Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Tokyo’s transportation is very convenient. The Shinkansen with a speed of 200 kilometers per hour extends from Tokyo to Kyushu and extends to the northeast. The underground railway can reach almost all important areas. Railways, highways, aviation and shipping form an extensive transportation network that leads to the country and the world.
On March 14, 1979, Tokyo and Beijing became sister cities.
Kyoto, the historical ancient capital of Japan, the center of Buddhism, the holy land of Shintoism, the cradle of culture and art, a famous tourist city, and the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, is located in the central and western part of Honshu Island, in the northern part of the Kyoto Basin, and is the first in Japan to the east. The large lake Biwa Lake is only 5 kilometers long and is surrounded by mountains to the east, west and north. It has a mild climate and abundant rainfall. The trees in the city are lush and the fields in the suburbs are exceptionally green. Kyoto has more than 1,000 temples, 60 gardens, and three imperial palaces. Shrines, ancient temples, and imperial palaces and gardens are distributed on both sides of the undulating streets. They are scattered in an orderly manner and complement each other, allowing Kyoto to maintain its rich ancient capital style. Kyoto has shown the world the beauty of its "Japanese" style with its long history, cultural charm, elegant scenery and unique tranquility throughout the city.
Thousand-year-old ancient capital
Kyoto was formerly known as Heian-kyo. From the time Emperor Kanmu established Kyoto as the capital in 794 AD during the Heian period, to the time Emperor Meiji moved the capital to Edo (now Tokyo) in 1869, Kyoto It is the only thousand-year-old capital in Japanese history. The exquisite and meticulous culture and landscape of Kyoto have always been a symbol of Japanese culture. Among Japanese cities, Kyoto is most profoundly influenced by Chinese history and folk customs. Its urban construction imitates Luoyang and Chang'an in ancient China. Even now, "coming to Kyoto" is also called "entering Luo" by the Japanese. The five parts of Kyoto, namely the southeast, northwest, and central parts, are also customarily called "Luodong", "Lunan", "Luoxi", "Luobei" and "Luozhong". "Luo" means Luoyang, which means "the capital of a country and the center of a state".
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Kyoto Imperial Palace is the old imperial palace of Japan, also known as the "Forbidden City". From the time when the capital of Nara was moved here to the move during the Meiji Restoration, it has been the residence of successive emperors for more than 1,000 years, and later became the emperor's palace. The Kyoto Imperial Palace is located in Kamigyo District, Kyoto. It was burned seven times. The current palace was rebuilt for Emperor Xiaomei. It covers an area of ??110,000 square meters and is surrounded by walls. It has 9 famous gates, 10 main halls, and 19 halls. The palace courtyard is alternated with pine and cypress. , plum blossoms and cherry blossoms reflect each other.
Kinkakuji Temple
Kinkakuji Temple was originally the villa of Minister Saionji Kyousuke. In the 14th century AD, it was owned by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. After Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's death, it was converted into a Zen temple and named Roenji Temple according to his last words. The Golden Pavilion Temple is a three-story building. The outer walls of the second and third floors are made of gold foil. When viewed from a distance, the golden light shines, hence the name "Golden Pavilion Temple".
Each floor of the three-story Kinkakuji Temple symbolizes the style of a different era: the first floor is the Heian period, the second floor is the Kamakura period, and the third floor is the style of a Zen Buddhist temple. The top of the tower is decorated with a gold and bronze phoenix, which is unique. In front of the temple is a garden centered on the Mirror Lake Pond. The view of the gorgeous Golden Pavilion reflected in the Mirror Lake Pond is a representative landscape of Kyoto.
Ginkakuji Temple
Ginkakuji Temple is located at the foot of Higashiyama Mountain in Kyoto. It was built in 1482 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's grandson Ashikaga Yoshimasa in the style of Kinkakuji Temple. It is as famous as Kinkakuji Temple. Silver Pavilion Temple was originally a villa. When it was built, it was planned to decorate the outer wall with silver foil. However, it was not plated with silver foil when the construction was completed. It was renamed Cizhao Temple and commonly known as Silver Pavilion Temple. Silver Pavilion is an exquisite two-story attic: the first floor is called Xingkong Hall, which is a residential style for sitting in meditation and practicing Taoism; the second floor is called Chaoyin Pavilion, which is a Zen Buddhist hall dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva. As a representative of Higashiyama culture in the Muromachi period, Ginkakuji Temple enjoys a high reputation in garden architecture art both in Kyoto and throughout Japan. Ginkakuji is a combination of traditional residence and temple architecture, echoing the surrounding garden scenery, reflecting its unique purity and elegance, and forming a sharp contrast with the gorgeous luxury of Kinkakuji.
Kyomizu-dera Temple
Also located at the foot of Higashiyama Mountain, Kiyomizu-dera Temple is the oldest temple in Kyoto. It was built in 798 AD by Master Ci En. The current Kiyomizudera Temple was rebuilt in 1633 during the Tokugawa Ieyasu era. Kiyomizu-dera Temple is a pillar-style temple built earlier than Kinkaku-ji Temple. The main hall is built on the edge of the cliff. The front half is a suspended "stage" supported by 139 tall logs, tens of meters high. The temple has exquisite architecture and a very ingenious structure without using a single nail. The Otowa Waterfall in Kiyomizu Temple flows down from the cliff next to the temple. The water is clear and continuous all year round. It is listed as the first of Japan's top ten famous waters, and the name of Kiyomizu Temple comes from this. It is said that the water from the waterfall is very curative for diseases. There are long-handled water ladles in the temple for visitors to drink. This temple covers an area of ??130,000 square meters, with winding paths and green trees. In spring and autumn, this is a great place to view cherry blossoms and maple leaves.
Nishi Honganji Temple
Nishi Honganji Temple is the largest temple in Kyoto. It is magnificent and magnificent. Its architecture preserves the style of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Among them, the "Tang Gate", which is listed as a national treasure, is decorated with lions in the style of the Tang Dynasty on the front, and stories on the sides of ancient Chinese stories of Yao and Shun's abdication. There are many ancient Chinese paintings in the Black Academy, White Academy, and Zhaoxian Hall in the temple.
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle is the residence of the shogun in Kyoto. There are luxurious rooms inside, which are hung with calligraphy and paintings, and the paintings are plated with gold foil and sparkle. Past the massive front door, richly carved and ornately decorated, is a series of interview rooms. The first hall is decorated with rich paintings and the ceiling is decorated with flat paneling. The inner hall is used to receive senior officials. The decoration here is more elaborate and the expense is greater. The corridor is paved with a "warbler" floor, which will make a sound like an oriole's chirping when walking on it to prevent outsiders from intruding.
Sanjutsugen-do Hall
Sanjuegen-do Hall was built by Taira Kiyomori in 1164 AD. It burned down for a time and was rebuilt in 1266. The name of Sanjujugen-do comes from the fact that the main hall is divided by 32 pillars. In the main hall, which is about 120 meters long, with a seated statue of Thousand-Armed Guanyin in the center of the main hall as the center, 1001 standing statues of Thousand-Armed Guanyin in various poses, lifelike and with different expressions are neatly lined up along both sides. When opened, it is splendid and magnificent, which is also the most famous place of Sanshijiado.
Arashiyama
Arashiyama is located in the northwest of Kyoto City. It is a place for viewing cherry blossoms and maple leaves. There is Kameyama Park at the foot of the mountain. Every autumn, the green pines and cypresses on Arashi Mountain are reflected by the clusters of red leaves, giving people a bright and warm feeling. Premier Zhou Enlai studied in Japan when he was young, visited Arashiyama many times, and wrote the famous poem "Arashiyama in the Rain - Kyoto, Japan". In April 1979, a monument to Premier Zhou Enlai's poems was built in Guishan Park on the banks of the Dayan River at the foot of Arashiyama. The poem monument was made of Kyoto's famous stone "Anma Stone". The full text of the poem is engraved on the monument to commemorate Premier Zhou Enlai's outstanding contribution to promoting Sino-Japanese friendship.
Kyoto "Sacrifice"
In Kyoto, this checkerboard city designed to imitate Chang'an, every lane and lane has a thousand-year tradition. Festivals are also a major feature of Kyoto, an ancient cultural capital. After thousands of years of history, they have been passed down to this day and have become a part of the lives of Kyoto people. Throughout the year, there are many large and small festivals such as the Aoi Festival, the Garden Festival, the Kurama Fire Festival, the Tanabata Festival, and the Jidai Festival. In particular, the Garden Festival is the most grand and is one of the three major festivals in Japan.
Aoi Festival
When it comes to festivals in ancient times, it refers to the Aoi Festival. Originally called Kamo Matsuri, it originated in the 6th century AD. Later, when the festival was held, cows and horses, the carriages of nobles, and the clothes of believers would be decorated with sunflower leaves, so it was gradually renamed Aoi Matsuri. It has the longest history among the three major festivals in Kyoto and is quite elegant in style.
Garden Festival
The most lively place in Kyoto in summer is the garden. In the month starting from July, various traditional sacrifices and celebrations continue. This is the "Ensai", one of the three major festivals in Kyoto. This festival originated in AD 869. Because of the epidemic of infectious diseases at that time, it was held to seek blessings from the gods and drive away the diseases, and it has been passed down ever since. In the past, the garden was once a romantic place, where a large number of kaikos and maikos appeared. The food here is also the most authentic and delicious in Kyoto.
Jidai Festival
In the 28th year of Meiji (1895), Heian Shrine was built to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the establishment of the capital of Heian, and a grand festival was held. Jidai Festival is a procession that expresses the cultural relics and customs of each era. The festival day is October 22, which is based on the day Emperor Kanmu entered Heian Kyo (Kyoto). On that day, a shrine ceremony was held at Heian Jingu Shrine, and the "Holy Train of Gods" with the gods placed there will proceed from the Jingu Shrine to the "Abode" of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Along the "reunification" of this "sacred procession", there are customary processions for decoration. The total number of people in various custom processions is about 2,000, and the length of the procession is about 2 kilometers. It takes about an hour and a half to pass through.